Desertification crisis affecting 168 countries worldwide, study shows

[Redfairen]

Source: The Guardian

Severe land degradation is now affecting 168 countries across the world, according to new research released by the UN Desertification Convention (UNCCD).

The figure, based on submissions from countries to the UN, is a marked increase on the last analysis in the mid-1990s, which estimated 110 states were at risk.

.......

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) predicts demand for food will increase 60% by 2050. Experts say the world will need an additional 120 million hectares of agricultural land to support the required food production – that is a new farm the size of South Africa.

Meanwhile recent studies by the UK Met Office and USAID have linked the severe drought that hit East Africa in 2011 and falling rice yields in South East Asia to man-made climate change.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/17/desertification

[OneGrassRoot]

1. This video may also be of interest:

K&R

[Berlum]

3. + 1

The corporate GMO crop crap & allied chemical attack on the earth compound the problem.

Savory is on the right track.

[Delphinus]

5. That's pretty amazing ...

and hopeful. Thank you!

[Richard D]

2. An interesting Ted Talk about this

http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change.html

[GitRDun]

6. Really cool!

Thanks for posting!

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Redfairen.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. The Great Green Wall (sorry, no time to post excerpts but wanted to get this in here)

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44671&Cr=desertification&Cr1=#.UXACOqLktJg

[maddezmom]

9. Kicking

Messed up on the dupe, sorry about that.